Elastic IP address (EIP), a dynamic public IP address, serves as a static IP for use with Amazon Web Services (AWS) resources in different Availability Zones (AZ) and regions. EIPs can be associated with Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances, Load Balancers, and NAT gateways, providing increased flexibility and ease of management for cloud deployments.
What is an Elastic IP?
An Elastic IP (EIP) is a static IPv4 address that you can assign to an EC2 instance or other AWS resource in a specific region. This allows you to maintain a consistent IP address for your resource even if the underlying instance or resource is terminated and recreated.
Here are the key benefits of using Elastic IPs:
- Static IP addresses: EIPs provide static IP addresses for your EC2 instances and other AWS resources, which is useful for applications that require a consistent IP address.
- Easy to manage: EIPs can be easily assigned and unassigned to EC2 instances and other AWS resources through the AWS Management Console, CLI, or API.
- Cost-effective: EIPs are relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the cost of a dedicated IP address.
How Elastic IPs Work
When you create an EIP, AWS assigns it to a specific region. You can then assign the EIP to an EC2 instance or other AWS resource in that region. The EIP is associated with the resource until you explicitly unassign it.
If the EC2 instance or other AWS resource that the EIP is assigned to is terminated, the EIP is automatically released and can be assigned to a new resource.
Elastic IP Address Allocation Limits
Each AWS account has a limit on the number of EIPs that can be allocated in each region. The default limit is 5 EIPs per region, but you can request to increase this limit through the AWS Support Center.
The following table shows the number of EIPs that can be allocated in each region:
| Region | Default Limit | Maximum Limit |
|---|---|---|
| US East (N. Virginia) | 5 | 100 |
| US East (Ohio) | 5 | 100 |
| US West (N. California) | 5 | 100 |
| US West (Oregon) | 5 | 100 |
| Asia Pacific (Singapore) | 5 | 100 |
| Asia Pacific (Tokyo) | 5 | 100 |
| Asia Pacific (Sydney) | 5 | 100 |
| Europe (Ireland) | 5 | 100 |
| Europe (Frankfurt) | 5 | 100 |
| Europe (London) | 5 | 100 |
| South America (São Paulo) | 5 | 100 |
Elastic IP Address Pricing
The cost of an EIP varies depending on the region in which it is allocated. The following table shows the pricing for EIPs in each region:
| Region | Price per EIP |
|---|---|
| US East (N. Virginia) | \$0.005 per hour |
| US East (Ohio) | \$0.005 per hour |
| US West (N. California) | \$0.005 per hour |
| US West (Oregon) | \$0.005 per hour |
| Asia Pacific (Singapore) | \$0.005 per hour |
| Asia Pacific (Tokyo) | \$0.005 per hour |
| Asia Pacific (Sydney) | \$0.005 per hour |
| Europe (Ireland) | \$0.005 per hour |
| Europe (Frankfurt) | \$0.005 per hour |
| Europe (London) | \$0.005 per hour |
| South America (São Paulo) | \$0.005 per hour |
Question 1:
What is an elastic IP address?
Answer:
An elastic IP address is a static public IP address that you can allocate to AWS resources that have a dynamic IP address. It provides a fixed IP address for your resources, even if their underlying IP address changes.
Question 2:
How does an elastic IP address differ from a regular public IP address?
Answer:
An elastic IP address is different from a regular public IP address in that it is not tied to a specific physical server or device. You can allocate and re-allocate an elastic IP address to different resources as needed, while a regular public IP address is typically assigned to a single device or server.
Question 3:
What are the benefits of using an elastic IP address?
Answer:
The benefits of using an elastic IP address include:
- Static IP address: Provides a fixed IP address for your resources, making them easier to access.
- Flexibility: Can be allocated and re-allocated to different resources as needed.
- Portability: Can be moved between different AWS regions or accounts.
- Cost-effective: Typically more cost-effective than obtaining a new public IP address each time you add a resource.
Well, there you have it, folks! Elastic IP addresses – they’re like the Swiss Army knives of the internet world. They adapt to whatever you need them to do, so you can keep your virtual resources connected and accessible. Thanks for sticking with me through this brief rundown. If you’re still curious or need more info, be sure to drop by again. I’ll be here, waiting to nerd out about IP addresses with you. Cheers!